qián HSK1

in front

  • edit character approved — "more concise explanation while trying to preserve all of the details" by Peter Olson
    Hint
    Phonetic loan, originally from 歬. 歬 depicts washing feet but became used phonetically to mean both "cut" and "in front". An added 刂 (knife) once distinguished 前 as the original form of "cut", but later this too became used phonetically for the current meaning "in front". A later 刀 (knife) continues to distinguish 剪 as the current form of "cut", which left "in front" to become the sole meaning of 前. Phonosemantic compound. 歬 represents the sound, and 刂 represents the meaning. Based on the original meaning "cut", now written as 剪. The current meaning "in front" is a phonetic loan.
    Components
    • Sound
      • hint: Depicts washing feet. Once the phonetic loan for both "cut" and "in front". (empty)
    Sources

    Changed: hint, components, sources

    edit character by Peter Olson

  • edit character approved — "I think 刂 here was used for the meaning "cut" rather than part of an iconic depiction involving the form of a knife. 刂 is a meaning component in the other phonosemantic characters like 刻." by cochleoid
    Components
    • Meaning
      • type: iconic meaning

    Changed: components

    edit character by cochleoid

  • edit character approved — "Tried to cram in the newer etymology and reflect this in the components" by cochleoid
    Hint
    Originally written as 歬, depicting putting shoes on feet to prepare to go forward. The 刂 (knife) component was added because 前 is phonetically similar to 剪 (cut) and was sometimes used to mean "cut". Phonetic loan, originally from 歬. 歬 depicts washing feet but became used phonetically to mean both "cut" and "in front". An added 刂 (knife) once distinguished 前 as the original form of "cut", but later this too became used phonetically for the current meaning "in front". A later 刀 (knife) continues to distinguish 剪 as the current form of "cut", which left "in front" to become the sole meaning of 前.
    Original meaning
    cut
    Components
    • Sound
      • hint: Depicts putting shoes on feet (止) to prepare to go forward. Depicts washing feet. Once the phonetic loan for both "cut" and "in front".
      • type: sound, iconic sound
    • Iconic
      • isFromOriginalMeaning: (empty) true
    Sources

    Changed: hint, original meaning, components, sources

    edit character by cochleoid

  • edit character approved — "remove 止 link" by Peter Olson
    Hint
    Originally written as 歬, depicting putting shoes on feet (止) to prepare to go forward. The 刂 (knife) component was added because 前 is phonetically similar to 剪 (cut) and was sometimes used to mean "cut". Originally written as 歬, depicting putting shoes on feet to prepare to go forward. The 刂 (knife) component was added because 前 is phonetically similar to 剪 (cut) and was sometimes used to mean "cut".

    Changed: hint

    edit character by Peter Olson

  • edit character approved — "verify, add source" by Peter Olson
    Hint
    Phonosemantic compound. 歬 represents the sound, and 刂 represents the meaning. Based on the original meaning "cut", now written as 剪. The current meaning "in front" is a phonetic loan. Originally written as 歬, depicting putting shoes on feet (止) to prepare to go forward. The 刂 (knife) component was added because 前 is phonetically similar to 剪 (cut) and was sometimes used to mean "cut".
    Components
    • SoundIconic
      • hint: (empty) Depicts putting shoes on feet (止) to prepare to go forward.
      • type: sound sound, iconic
    • Iconic
      • type: meaning iconic
      • isFromOriginalMeaning: true (empty)
    Strokes (simplified)
    9 strokes
    9 strokes

    Source: animcjk dong

    Sources

    Changed: hint, verified, components, sources, strokes (simp), fragments (simp), images

    edit character by Peter Olson